Ford Stands Fast

Ford Stands Fast

Article excerpt

The Jaguar is a much bigger threat than the mouse. No, that's not the advice of some animal expert. It's the conclusion of the notoriously antigay American Family Association, which ended its nine-year boycott of the Walt Disney Co. on May 23 and launched one against Ford Motor Co.--maker of Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar. "From redefining family to include homosexual marriage, to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda ... Ford leads the way," stated Donald Wildmon, executive director of the Mississippi-based AFA.

"We certainly are not going to be intimidated by this kind of thing," said a defiant Joseph Clapsaddle, public and community relations manager at Hornburg Jaguar/Land Rover in West Hollywood, Calif. "We have been serving [the gay] community for many years, and we're standing behind them."

And so is Ford. "Ford values all people, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural or physical differences," responded Ford group vice president of human resources Joe Laymon. …